Jump to new as of November 25, 2003
Jump to new as of December 2, 2003
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003
It is truth universally acknowledged that a lady of particular beauty and inconsiderable fortune must be in want of a rich husband. So it can be easily imagined what was felt and experienced Mrs Bennet, a happy mother of five unmarried daughters, after the assembly at Meryton, where Mr Bingley, a young and rich new-comer had danced twice with her eldest daughter Jane who was a reputed beauty in the neigbourhood. Mrs Bennet, whose main business in life was to get her five daughters married, was extremely happy with the fact and spent all the evening after the assembly in compliments to Mr Bingley. But she was not completely satisfied with the evening for Mr Darcy, who accompanied Mr Bingley and was discovered to be even healthier than his friend, was unpardonably rude to her second daughter Elizabeth by refusing to dance with her. Though Mrs Bennet’s indignation had been somewhat lessened by the fact that Mr Darcy spent some time conversing with Miss Bennet and though Elizabeth was her least favourite child, Mrs Bennet still could not forgive a man who had ten thousand a-year and would be a perfect husband for any of her daughters, for having slighted not only Elizabeth but also her three younger daughters. He danced only once with Mr Bingley’s sisters, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley, and all these facts were quite sufficient for Mrs Bennet to dislike that gentleman and declare him to be the most disagreeable man she ever met.
Mr Bennet, a reasonable and clever gentleman, whose forbearance was too often tried by his wife’s constant whims and nerves, was not happy in his marriage, but still he was a tender and affectionate father for his two eldest daughters, though the three youngest he considered to be silly and ignorant. His opinion was not completely untrue, for Miss Catherine and Lydia Bennet were fond of dances, officers and flirtation, and Miss Mary Bennet was what is called a blue-stocking.
Mr Bennet found some amusement in teasing her wife and younger daughters and laughing at their follies and ignorance and this was the only consolation he could find in his marriage. Jane and Elizabeth were very dear to him though he preferred his second daughter’s company for her wit and quickness of mind.
Elizabeth was perfectly satisfied with the ball. Mr Darcy’s words of her being not handsome enough to dance with were very offensive to her but as she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous, she preferred to laugh than to repent. She shared the general opinion of the neighborhood that Mr Darcy was proud and haughty and unworthy to be compared with his friend. Elizabeth was somewhat surprised at seeing him conversing with her eldest sister for some time at the ball and was wild to know Jane’s opinion of him.
When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the latter used this opportunity to inquire of her sister how much she liked both gentlemen. Miss Bennet expressed herself as she was expected to do.
“Mr Bingley is just a young man ought to be,” said she, “sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! – so much ease, with such perfect good-breeding!”
And then, after some hesitation she added –
“But do not you think Lizzy that he wants some strength of character? I am afraid to seem too hasty in judging him, but I fear he lacks something substantial and important – constancy of opinions and persuasions.”
Elizabeth was struck by such an answer.
“Then it means that you liked his friend more?” she asked, unable to believe.
“I do not know Lizzy. When he talked to me he was by no means haughty or contemptuous. He seemed quite reserved to me but also I think him a very clever and respectable gentleman. And yet I know too little of him to be sure of anything regarding him.”
“Then you can not be sure of anything regarding Mr Bingley.”
“True. I do not want to seem ungrateful. I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time.”
“When Mr Darcy did not ask you to dance at all,” smiled Elizabeth.
Jane paused, then said in a very serious tone –
“I do not set up for understanding other people’s characters after such a slight acquaintance. Perhaps, I have been too unjust to Mr Bingley and too kind to Mr Darcy. I know that you are deeply offended by his words and his behaviour is difficult to excuse. I wish to think that he had no intention to offend you Lizzie. I hope you will not let this first impression of him determine your further attitude towards him.”
Elizabeth preferred not to reply, for she did not want to make Jane uneasy. It was the first time in her life when she perfectly agreed with her mother that Mr Darcy was the most unpleasant man among all her acquaintance and she was quite sure that such her opinion would remain unalterable.
Part 1 B
Posted on Monday, 24 November 2003
The events of the following days only convinced Elizabeth that she had been quite right in her first account of Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley, whose admiration of the eldest Miss Bennet was evident to everyone, was now a frequent visitor at Longbourn, now and then accompanied by Mr Darcy. Elizabeth observed the conduct of both gentlemen towards her eldest sister and though she could not doubt Mr Bingley’s attitude, at the same time she could not understand Mr Darcy’s feelings. Though it was evident that Jane was the only person in their family with whom he could converse without mortification, she could find in him neither warmth nor animation. He was cold as a fish. Most times he was silent, looking at others with a mixture of indifference and haughtiness. Elizabeth never saw him laughing and very soon she heartily believed him devoid of every human feeling.
Mr Bingley was all politeness and amiability. He was liked and admired everywhere. His admiration of the pretty Miss Bennet did not escape the notice of the neighborhood and soon it became the main subject of gossips in Meryton.
Mrs Bennet was violent in her approbation. Mr Bingley’s manners and fortune could not but please her and soon Jane had to change colour very often for her mother did not suffer from the access of the delicacy and Netherfield and its grounds were now Mrs Bennet’s favourite subject.
Elizabeth was very cautious in her suspicions. She observed her sister closely but could not find any signs of affection for Mr Bingley. Jane found him to be amiable, well-bred and friendly but Elizabeth began to fear that her sister preferred the company of another gentleman, and it was the first time in her life she could not understand her sister.
While Bingley was falling in love with the eldest Miss Bennet and Elizabeth suspecting her sister to have some feelings for his friend, Mr Darcy quite unexpectedly for himself found himself observing too often Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s pretty face. She was not his first object of admiration. At the Meryton assembly he scarcely noticed her. Miss Jane Bennet seemed much more handsome to him. He even asked Bingley to introduce him to her and was pleased to find an unaffected and kind young woman. He had been used to the mercenary ladies of the ton whose main purpose in life was to get a rich husband and so was surprised, for Miss Bennet was quite different from such women as Miss Bingley who thought of themselves and meanly of others.
After the Meryton assembly Darcy had to listen to his friend’s rapturous exclamations concerning Miss Bennet’s beauty and character. And he laughed at the perspective of their being rivals. Bingley was one of the dearest people to him and as he had no intentions to pay attentions to her considering her family’s situation, it was no sacrifice on his side to stop thinking of her at all.
Her sister Elizabeth he could hardly call a beauty. There was nothing extraordinary in her face, her manners were not of the fashionable world, in short, she had nothing to recommend her. But no sooner had he made such conclusions, than he began to notice that her eyes were brilliant and her manners easy and lively. Even her impertinence did not seem a failure to him any more. But such discoveries were mortifying to him. He could not think without displeasure of his being attracted to a woman who had neither fortune nor connections. And he had been perfectly convinced that despite his feelings he would never let himself have any connections with such a family.
Part 2
Posted on Monday, 1 December 2003,
Mr Bingley’s sisters greatly admired and liked Miss Jane Bennet so very soon they became as close as it was possible after one month’s acquaintance. Their meetings were very often and as both Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley made no objections to their brother’s partiality for Jane, Mrs Bennet grew convinced that they desired the connection as much as she could do.
Elizabeth was afraid to tell her mother that the union she had so much dreamt of would never take place. As much she admired Mr Bingley and regretted Jane’s indifference to him, her sister’s happiness was of greatest concern to her and she was strongly convinced that Jane would not be happy in a marriage devoid of affection.
Soon the Bennet's had an unexpected visitor at Longbourn. Mr Collins, Mr Bennet’s distant cousin who was to inherit Longbourn after Mr Bennet’s death. He arrived to Longbourn for the purpose to find a wife and, as Mrs Bennet very prudently marked Elizabeth as his best choice he had no doubts in a soon conclusion of the business.
The next day Mt Collins accompanied his fair cousins to Meryton where the youngest Miss Bennets hoped to meet officers or look at new bonnets in a shop window. Very soon the party met with Mr Denny, an officer of the regiment quartered in Meryton, accompanied by a young man of most gentlemanlike appearance. Mr Denny introduced his friend, Mr Wickham, who had just accepted a commission in their corps. The ladies and gentlemen entered into a most lively and pleasant conversation. Some time later Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy were seen riding down the street. Mr Bingley began usual civilities while his friend and Mr Wickham were looking at each other with a heightened colour. Elizabeth happened to see the effect of this meeting and was all astonishment.
In another minute Bingley and Darcy were gone but before Elizabeth could not but notice that her sister had been much more friendly to Mr Bingley than a week ago. So she was determined to learn the reason for such a change in Jane’s behaviour. But in the evening Mr Collins was so desirous to spend every minute with his fair cousin Elizabeth that she had not the smallest opportunity to talk to Jane.
The very next evening at Mrs Philips’ there was a most animating conversation between Elizabeth and her new favourite Mr Wickham. The gentleman charmed by Miss Bennet’s beauty and frank confession in her utter dislike of Mr Darcy related to her the whole of his connection with Mr Darcy’s family. Mr Wickam was the son of the steward of the late Mr Darcy who had been very kind to his godson and promised him a living after his death. But Mr Darcy guided by a determined dislike of his father’s favourite refused to fulfill his father’s will. Elizabeth was shocked.
“This is quite shocking! – He deserves to be publicly disgraced.”
But Mr Wickhan said that respect for Mr Darcy’s father would prevent him from exposing his son. Elizabeth was stuck with such generosity, moreover, she was pleased to find that Mr Wickham had much more than a fine countenance and agreeable manners to recommend himself and she congratulated herself on taking so early a determined dislike of Mr Darcy.
That evening Elizabeth decided to talk to Jane. Apart from desire to relate to her sister what had happened between Mr Wickham and herself, she wanted to know why Jane had changed her attitude towards Mr Bingley. Before she received his attentions without any participation of sentiment, though her mild temper prevented her from showing her real feelings. Besides, Elizabeth was afraid that Jane had been influenced by her mother.
“Jane,” began Elizabeth very cautiously. “What do you think of Mr Bingley now, after one month’s acquaintance?”
“He is a very good man, Lizzie. I regret my words after the Meriton assembly. I should not have judged him so severely.”
“So you like him?”
Jane was silent.
“Please Jane it is not a curiosity. I must know what your feelings for Mr Bingley are.”
Jane forced herself to speak.
“I like him. And … if he proposes I will accept him.”
Elizabeth was speechless then cried –
“How is it possible Jane? I thought you liked Mr Darcy.”
Elizabeth regretted her words almost immediately for Jane blushed violently and turned away from her. At last Jane spoke but her voice was trembling.
“He will be a good husband Lizzie. He loves me and he is so kind. I know that I can be happy with him.”
“Do not try to deceive me Jane. I know that you do not love him well enough to marry him. Do anything rather than marry without affection. You should marry for love.”
“you know our family’s situation Lizzie. At least one of us should marry advantageously.”
“Not you. You are the best of all us. You are too kind and good to choose such a life. You will not find happiness in a marriage deprived of love and affection.”
“Why do not you think that the conviction that I have done everything to help my family will not make me happy?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes. It was quite clear to her that Jane was determined to sacrifice all her life to oblige her mother.
“This will not do,” she thought. “If I can not convince Jane then I have to be reduced to deception.”
“Jane, if you do not change your mind then I will accept Mr Collins.”
“”Mr Collins!” exclaimed Jane. “” When did he propose?”
“He has not proposed yet but you are not blind and can perfectly see what all his compliments and hints mean. He is so overcome with a nonexistent guilt of inheriting Longbourn after my father’s death and so determined to make every possible amends by marrying one of us that you can hardly doubt the forthcoming events.”
“Lizzie you will not make such a foolish thing.”
“Why not? If you are so determined to marry without affection why should I be less generous than you?”
“you can hardly compare Mr Bingley to Mr Collins.”
“True. But it does not matter, Jane. I promise you that if you accept Mr Bingley there will be a double wedding ceremony. Our mother will be quite ecstatic to have two her daughters married.”
They argued for a long time. Jane have never been so persuasive than at the present moment talking about her respect and admiration of Mr Bingley but still Elizabeth remained constant in her decision. She knew now perfectly well that Jane was in love with another man and she could not let her sister spoil not only her own life but also make Mr Bingley unhappy, for he deserved a wife who would really care for him. She knew she would do everything in her power to prevent the marriage which would bring her sister nothing but misery. And she succeeded. Jane turned her tear-stained face to Elizabeth and said –
“It is unjust of you Lizzie and I have no choice. I will not marry him … unless…”
“Unless?”
“Unless I feel that I fell in love with him.”
Elizabeth was satisfied. It gave her great consolation to think that she saved her sister from a loveless marriage. She only wished she could cure Jane’s broken heart. She wished she could make her forget Mr Darcy or at least understand that he did not deserve her respect and affection. But now she dared not to retell her sister Wickham’s story, she did not want to pain her any more. Such hopes were vain at present and the only thing she could do was to embrace her sister and say that everything would be all right though she herself hardly believed in that.